Four inches of snow have buried the administration…” A day after the first snowfall in Kashmir Valley, it seems the most favourite line of every Kashmiri helplessly braving the bone-chilling weather without electricity and drinking water.
The Valley has been without electricity for two complete days now even as many areas are under acute shortage of the drinking water, exposing the state government’s tall claims
of its preparedness for the winter.
Against the requirement of around
1100 MW electricity, all Kashmir is
getting at present is around 150 MW
from gas turbine, Uri-I and Lower
Jhelum Hydel projects. Of this, as
claimed by government, 25 MW are
supplied to hospitals and the rest
about 120 MW are provided on rotation—
one hour in 24 hours—to
residential areas.
“The government has failed miserably
to manage the crisis. The
snowfall is most expected thing in
winter, yet the government failed to
maintain the power supply in comparatively
less snow. It is disappointing,”
Mushtaq Ahmad Mir of old city,
an enraged common man, said while
talking to Kashmir Times.
“Just a few days ago the chief minister
(Omar Abdullah) claimed that
they have started the gas turbine
that generates 100 MW of electricity,
but today in crisis they say three
projects (including gas turbine) are
generating only around 70 MW. It
shows the government is befooling
us. How are we supposed to survive
in this chill?” he asked.
The authorities claim that the snow
has damaged Kishanpora-Wagoora
and Kishanpora-Pampore transmission
lines, causing halt in the power
supply from the northern grid.
However, without electricity the
public, especially the ailing and the
elderly, has to face acute inconveniences.
“Darkness is more or less manageable,
but we have no means to warm
the water for bathing etc… It is life
threatening situation for the elderly
and the children? But no one seems
bothered,” Mohammad Iqbal Wani
of Rambagh said.
Coincidently, the valley observed
complete shutdown, against power
shortage, on the very day snowfall
occurred. The strike was called by
the Kashmir Economic Alliance
(KEA), amalgam of trade associations,
following the killing of a youth
at Boniyar Uri in CISF firing on
protests-against-electricity-shortage.
While calling for the strike, the
KEA pointed out the surplus power
supply maintained with the same
infrastructure during the tenure of
Mufti Muhammad Syed.
The public seems sharing the
similar views.
“During the time of Mufti Sayeed
we had almost 17 feet snow at many
places closer to the Tunnel, yet he
provided us uninterrupted power
supply. If he could manage it, why
is this government NC-Congress Coalition) helpless?” asked Ghulam Muhammad, a senior citizen from Lal Bazar.
The enraged consumers took to roads at many places.
People came out at Drangbal and Namlebal Pampore people to protest the power shortage. The reports said they also attacked with Kangris a VIP vehicle passing through the area.
The residents of Sumbal Bandipora gathered at protested at press enclave here.
The government, however, is still unsure about the total restoration.
“The repair work is on and we are hopeful that the work Kishanpora-Pampore transmission line will be done by evening. We are hopeful that the power will be partially restored this evening,” head disaster management, Amir Ali, said.
Water shortage worsens situation
Besides electricity, most areas in the Valley have been without proper supply of the drinking water. On the makeshift basis, the most areas are getting drinking water for four hours in the morning and two hours in the evening.
Most old city areas like Nowpora, Khanyar and Habba kadal, and several civil lines areas including city centre Lal Chowk have been without drinking water since last evening.
The reports coming in from many areas in North and South Kashmir said the water supply has been affected for nearly two days.
The shortage of drinking water is forcing the public to utilize the unhygienic water resources.
“We are without water since last morning. We are forced to collect the water from the nearby public tap or the stream,” Mudasir of Kupwara said. The authorities said the halt was due to power shortage.
“We are facing problems at Dood ganga project due to power shortage, so the inconvenience will remain till electricity is restored fully,” Amir, who is also the office on special duty, said.
Highway closed
The Jammu-Srinagar highway was closed for traffic till last reports came due to 550 Feet avalanche at Ramban. The road link is likely to be restored tomorrow.
However, all flights and trains operated on time except the first flight of the morning that faced a delay.
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